Griffin, who was elected originally in 2008 and is currently the vice president of the board, explained she endeavors to remember things the trustees have done in the past so, when similar situations come up, she can point out precedents and things that have worked or not worked in previous decisions.

There came a point when she was pondering whether to run for re-election that she said, "You have invested all of this time and you have learned all of this, and if you give up on this, then it all will be wasted."

Griffin said all California schools continue to suffer under budget restraints, but she sees ways to save money and teach more effectively using technology.

She questioned whether "brick and mortar" schools will be necessary in the future. She also challenged the necessity for paper textbooks. She said all of the current textbooks could be translated to a digital format and downloaded on a laptop or tablet computer, and "the kids won't have to carry 10 tons of books."

Griffin, whose academic and professional background has mostly focused on education and teaching, claims there are studies that suggest, "The way they (the current students) learn has been altered by their use of electronic media."

"In my mind, those possibilities are going to rescue us in the financial apocalypse we are facing," she said.

The incumbent said she would like to see the current use of standardized tests scrapped. Instead of preparing students to score well on a state or federal standards test, she wants to see students prepared to fill jobs that the community employers have available.

She wants to see the expansion of "community partnerships," to get local business and industry involved in the schools .

She said schools need to ask, "What do the employers around here want."

Griffin said there are approaches currently being tried in Chico schools where elementary school students are issued limited-use computers that connect them to a math teaching program.

The program automatically tests a student's skill level and leads the student through a series of exercises aimed at improving those skills. It also alerts the teacher to the student's strengths and weaknesses. It allows the teacher to provide help and encouragement either online or face-to-face with the student.

Making technology "our friend," will be a cost- savings tool for the district, she contends.

Another way to improve education and save money is to mine the district teachers for ideas and suggestions, she said.

"They probably have better ideas because they are right there."

Staff writer Roger H. Aylworth can be reached at 896-7762 or at raylworth@chicoer.com, or at @RogerAylworth on Twitter.